© Pietro Savorelli
June 20, 2025
Christine Bürg
What determines whether we feel comfortable in our home? Interior designer Philipp Hoflehner, Creative Director and Managing Director of "Bernd Gruber Kitzbühel," has the answers.
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What factors are decisive for whether I feel comfortable in an interior or with interior design?
The interior must primarily correspond to your own personality and fit the current phase of life - and on very different levels. Everyone evolves, as do personal tastes and standards. We often experience this when we furnish a new house for clients and visit their previous residence as part of the process.
And how do you find out what makes your clients feel comfortable at the moment?
By looking at how they currently live and what their environment is like. At the beginning of a project, we also dedicate a day in our "Empathy Workshop" to them to deeply understand what makes them tick and what is important to them. We work with imagery and mood boards that showcase different style worlds and can assess what they like based on their reactions.
We discuss what they see and listen to the words they use. For example, modern means something different to everyone. One person associates it with a minimalist 60s ambiance, while for another it means exposed concrete and glass. At the end of such a workshop, we have a very good picture of what is important to them, where their standards lie, what a certain atmosphere means to them, and what makes them feel comfortable. And when we design a house that corresponds to current life and circumstances, it is usually associated with great happiness.
Is there such a thing as a comfort miracle weapon?
Yes, Light is crucially important. That's why we don't hand over light planning. You can't aim for an atmosphere without considering the lighting. Several factors play a role here. Firstly, the warmth, the light color, and thus the Kelvin number. 2800 to 3000 Kelvin is good - anything above that looks cool and therefore uncomfortable. But it's about much more than light warmth. Light needs shadows, it needs a certain interplay between light and dark areas. Only in this way can you create atmosphere. You also have to consider the light horizon, and we often lower it. Just one ceiling light is just as uncomfortable as no light or too little light in the room. Our approach to light is very Japanese. In other words, the most beautiful and softest light is the one that shines through a semi-transparent fabric or paper.
You just mentioned the ceiling light – something typically German.
We differentiate between technical and ambient lighting. For cleaning, I need it bright. This technical light provides the basic illumination, which we then set by dimming to a maximum of 60 percent and only turn up higher if it is really necessary. The rest we generate with loose lighting and multiple light sources – a maximum of two to three different ones so that it doesn't look like a lamp studio.
What about the room size?
Large rooms are great, but you have to think them through to the end. A large room that isn't furnished like a large room isn't cozy.
© Alexander van Berge
Interior designer Philipp Hoflehner
When thinking of a very minimalistic interior – exposed concrete, white walls, straight-line design, maybe even marble – how do I create a cozy atmosphere? That sounds very cold ...
True, it exudes a certain coldness. But the decisive question is: Where is this room located? If this cool, sober room you described is in Ibiza, it can offer an absolute feel-good atmosphere because it's hot outside and I appreciate a room that is also visually cool. If I enter such a room in Kitzbühel in winter, I will feel cold. In that case, a wooden wall or a crackling fireplace creates a completely different atmosphere.
Speaking of colors. Do you play with them? And are there any specific guidelines here?
It's a shame that there are still so many white walls to be seen. We love to work with Art or working on wallpaper. Art on a wooden wall is beautiful, as is art on a gray wall. We rarely have purely white walls. You can create beautifully with colors. We think in terms of the space, not individual walls. We don't just paint one wall green or blue or gray; instead, we try to use the color to shape the space. Dark colors tend to recede, so there's definitely a point in painting the ceiling a bit darker, as it will then be less obtrusive.
So you are a fan of wall color?
Yes, please don't be afraid of colors! You should choose one that makes you feel comfortable and then stick to it. It doesn't have to be blue or green; you can choose a shade of gray. Or one of the certainly 20 existing shades of white, which might integrate much more harmoniously and form less contrast with the wood, the wooden floor, or the windows than pure white. Working with less contrast has a lot to do with creating an atmosphere where you feel comfortable.
And what role does the floor play? It is very determining for a room.
It's nice to have a continuous material, so work with less contrast here too, or establish a certain material balance. Only wood, only cool materials, or only stone can also be boring. The nice thing is when you create a balance of materials in the room with color coordination. You can also play with the surfaces, the change between smooth and rough.
There are also very different criteria. Sound, for example.
Acoustics are a huge issue. Less so here in Tyrol because we use a lot of wood, carpet, and textiles that absorb sound. This is more of a problem in new buildings. If the acoustics are not right, it can cause great discomfort. Fortunately, a lot has been done in this area. If necessary, you can counteract with acoustic plaster and, of course, textiles. Nature because we work a lot with wood, carpet, and textiles that absorb sound. This is more of a problem in new buildings. If the acoustics are not right, it causes great discomfort. Fortunately, a lot has been accomplished. If necessary, you can counteract with acoustic plaster and, of course, textiles.
"There is little that gives a room as much atmosphere as good art."
How important are accessories and art?
Here the circle closes. I don't think you feel comfortable when the interior designer hangs pictures on the wall with which you have little to do. You have to be able to identify with it. There is nothing more beautiful than surrounding yourself with things that have accumulated over your life and carry a story within them. Then it is a feeling of arriving and an expression of your own personality. There is little that gives a room as much atmosphere as good art.
What about trends? You can't completely free yourself from them.
There are always objects that are hyped on Instagram and in the media and suddenly become very popular – the Ultrafragola mirror by Ettore Sottsass (see image above) is such an example, the Togo by Ligne Roset or the Camaleonda by B&B Italia were everywhere for a while. Our clients then also ask if we can plan for these. Such a project usually takes two to three years on average, and while considering the client's culture, we want to offer them something more, which in this case means a timeless home. If you, like us, deal with design all day, you know very quickly what will stand the test of time and what will only be in trend for a few months or years. but then just as quickly disappears and becomes tiresome.
© PR
The Togo sofa by Ligne Roset
© PR
Camaleonda sofa by B&B Italia
Are there any pieces of furniture where getting tiresome happens less frequently?
If you want to be on the safe side, stick with the classics. But that's also kind of boring. I think it’s nice when you find a contemporary style that is still timeless. To me, that's not a contradiction. Timeless design was modern when it was created. But it was so good that it lasted and became timeless. There are always new things that meet this demand. Currently, for us, it is the collection by French designer Christophe Delcourt, who designs curves in a simple and timeless way, without it being too much. It’s not a quick, fleeting hype, but something you long for: subtle soft forms that are cozy but also meet high design standards.
Philipp Hoflehner is the Creative Director and Managing Director of "Bernd Gruber Kitzbühel"
